The phage M13 is a bacterial virus consisting of single-stranded DNA coated with major (pVIII) and minor (pIII, pVI, pVII, and pIX) coat proteins. phage M13 has emerged as an attractive bionanomaterial due to its genetically tunable surface chemistry and potential for self-assembly into layered structures. The unique advantages of bacteriophage over traditional bionanomaterials can be easily used for genetic information and biomimetic structures, leading to the development of various electronic and medical materials with precise molecular-level control. The biological advantages of phages such as evolution, specific recognition, and self-replication can be enhanced by genetic and chemical engineering. To expand the range of phage applications, strategies involving chemical modification have been employed to incorporate a wider range of functional groups. Genetic engineering of phages offers enormous opportunities to develop novel nanomaterials with functional surface peptide motifs.
Fig 1. a) Schematic structure of M13 bacteriophage and b) a genomic diagrams which shows each protein that is expressed on the M13-phage surface.The phage M13 is the most widely developed peptide display system and can be widely used in various fields through site-specific chemical modification. Our senior scientists are committed to providing phage modification with high sensitivity and selectivity. We provide single and dual modification on phage M13 modification services. They are listed as follows, but are not limited to:
Cysteine is one of the least abundant amino acids in phage coat proteins. Cysteine is incorporated into the viral capsid by genetic engineering to create a reactive handle. Cysteines on phage M13 have been used as alkylation sites for electrophilic halides or maleimides
N-terminal amine and lysine residues have been used in acylation sites to incorporate final functional groups or chemical linkers (eg, alkynyl) for further chemical modification.
Wild-type phage M13 pVIII contains surface carboxylic acid-containing amino acids. Carboxylic acid groups are commonly used for protein derivatization using mild carboxylic acid activation methods
N-terminal serine and threonine are oxidatively cleaved by NaIO4 to generate aldehyde functional groups. These N-terminal amino acids are absent in native phage M13 and thus serve as chemoselective modification sites.
Chemoselective modifications using tyrosine residues require incorporation within the N-terminal hydrophilic domain for chemical access. The chemoselective modification of tyrosine residues on coat proteins is orthogonal to other chemical modification methods for the preparation of double or multiple modified phage particles.
Phages are promising tools in the field of cancer therapy. Filamentous phages can be effectively used for the delivery of drug delivery vehicles and cancer cell imaging due to their ability to display or bind various molecules on the capsid surface, as well as their innate ability to penetrate and pass-through tissues and barriers. Phage display technology makes it possible to find phages that display tumor-targeting peptides on their capsids.
Creative Biolabs can meet the needs of customers by providing phage single and dual modification services on time and on budget. We have in-depth knowledge and experience of the tools and processes involved in the phage projects. Our skilled and dedicated scientific researchers ensure that the most suitable methods and techniques are selected for your project. If necessary, please feel free to contact us.
Please kindly note that our services can only be used to support research purposes (Not for clinical use).
Creative Biolabs is a globally recognized phage company. Creative Biolabs is committed to providing researchers with the most reliable service and the most competitive price.
